Kids, Autism and Work: Confused

Confused

By dammit hearing aid - 10/07/2014 22:17 - United States - Wallingford

Today, I was interviewing a woman for a job. She told me that she may need days off because of her artistic son. I jokingly replied, "Does he color on the walls or something?" She then stared at me with a weird look on her face. Autistic, her son is autistic. FML

I agree, your life sucks 42 861

You deserved it 22 333

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Same thing different taste

By kggggg - 12/08/2010 11:00 - United States

Today, while at my friend's house, I noticed her brother had a bit of an accent. I laughingly said "Is it me or does your little brother have an accent?" She stared and replied with "No, he has autism." FML

I agree, your life sucks 16 788

You deserved it 47 393

By ChessNut - 27/11/2018 12:00

Today, a girl I'd been crushing on for a little while and I were talking about autism. Some of the last words she said were "I try to not find autistic people so fucking annoying, but I can't help it. But can you blame me?” I'm autistic. FML

I agree, your life sucks 3 348

You deserved it 366

Nice try, Patricia

By Anonymous - 04/08/2022 02:00

Today, I had to deal with a lady who claimed her son was autistic to try and skip the queue. Even her son was saying he’s not autistic, and she was screaming in his face that yes he was. I happen to be genuinely autistic. Security threw her out, and I was jealous that I didn’t get to do it. FML

I agree, your life sucks 1 173

You deserved it 134

WTF?

By Viscerion - 31/01/2023 00:30 - Australia - Albury

Today, my wife, in all seriousness, told me she believed I am autistic. With all due respect to autistic people out there, WTF? FML

I agree, your life sucks 628

You deserved it 246

By Anonymous - 25/08/2009 17:03 - United States

Today, I was at the park with my autistic son when I noticed a teenage girl imitating him by flapping her hands and walking on her toes. Fed up with children mocking my son, I went over and sternly lectured the girl's mother. Turns out, her daughter is autistic too and will be in my son's class. FML

I agree, your life sucks 44 968

You deserved it 23 189

By Badatlife - 23/06/2014 16:19 - Australia - Kellyville

Today, a guy at work pulled me aside to tell me that I probably shouldn't be working a job where I have to interact with customers, because of my autism. I don't have autism. FML

I agree, your life sucks 50 900

You deserved it 4 642

Put that in your pipe and smoke it

By Mimi - 29/11/2012 05:29 - United States

Today, I was shopping when I overheard a woman telling an employee that she was buying an iPad for her 5-year-old son. Annoyed, I turned around and ranted about how he should have more age appropriate toys. Then she explained that her son is autistic and will be using the iPad to communicate. FML

I agree, your life sucks 9 899

You deserved it 94 104

What's your damage?

By Anonymous - 01/10/2022 21:30

Today, my therapist mentioned we should look into the possibility of me being autistic. When telling my boyfriend what she'd said, he replied, “I don’t think you’re autistic, just damaged.” FML

I agree, your life sucks 1 041

You deserved it 153

Weird flex, but OK

By Anonymous - 10/11/2019 20:00

Today, I asked the girl who has a crush on me if she was autistic. She replied without hesitation, "I can be whatever you want me to be." FML

I agree, your life sucks 1 665

You deserved it 1 095

Narcissist Mom

By ItsYou - 22/11/2023 10:00

Today, my coworker was going on and on about how her son was nice and got good grades but that she needed to find him a therapist because he's too shy in class, and how she didn't want her friends to think badly of her. She's a counselor. I sat in silence for almost an hour, because all I could think was, "WTF? Poor kid." FML

I agree, your life sucks 455

You deserved it 102

Mynameislinh 24

Friday 11 July 2014 9:54

Well, they do sound alike... You could explain to her the misunderstanding and everything may be cleared up.

Vagitarian1 10

Friday 11 July 2014 9:54

You could see that one coming.

Comments

lulinator 40

Friday 11 July 2014 15:35

This is why, when talking to new people about your autistic child, it is best to use the phrase "has autism." Can't mis-hear that one! After they know, use the two interchangeably. I'm pretty sure when I'm talking fast about my autistic son, it makes it sound like he's an artist. Innocent mistake, OP. I hope she didn't get offended.

Syssy_fml 2

Saturday 12 July 2014 3:04

That is ignorant. If op thinks someone needs off for an artistic son then op shouldn't even be handling interviews. Leave it to someone who knows the difference between artistic and autistic! You can't tell people how they should "announce" their children.

purepumpkin 12

Friday 11 July 2014 16:06

You're an idiot.

1two3four5six 23

Friday 11 July 2014 23:52

you're a dick

Boeneman 3

Friday 11 July 2014 16:42

wow feel the love in this place

BobbieH 19

Friday 11 July 2014 17:12

Don't hire her, she is already saying she's going to call off and potentially a lot. Then you won't ever see her again. Problem solved!

JJ_86 22

Saturday 12 July 2014 0:11

You can't assume that. She was giving a heads up just in case. Hire her for the honesty!!

lulinator 40

Saturday 12 July 2014 3:01

So parents of special needs children should be penalized because they want to help their children have a "normal" life? How very kind of you.

worldclassrager 39

Friday 11 July 2014 17:15

Did you give her the job? No hard feelings right?

KaneHunter 22

Friday 11 July 2014 17:38

I'm sorry that happened OP. Even if you explained the misunderstanding it'd still be embarrassing.

rocker_chick23 27

Friday 11 July 2014 18:46

Don't feel bad OP. I have an accent and it sounds like artistic when I say autistic.

NemusKiller 5

Friday 11 July 2014 18:54

Just don't give her the job... Lol

kotake 7

Friday 11 July 2014 20:22

The most justice you can do in this situation OP is to look at her like every other candidate, not the one you offended. Because you do what half of the people saying here do and just not give her the job, and you are then just being an ass who's sacrificing a good worker because you can't deal with a simple mishear. But if you give her the job because you were offensive, then you're just typecasting her into someone you offended. Just overlook that experience and keep her competitive. If she gets the job great if she doesn't fine. But don't center it around that one small event that was your fault.